CHRISTMAS EVIL
7.5/10 (hard to rate this one)
Not to be confused with the controversial, more exploitive “Silent Night, Deadly Night,” writer-director Lewis Jackson’s YOU BETTER WATCH OUT — also known as the pulpier titled CHRISTMAS EVIL – has been issued on DVD a few times over the years, but never more satisfyingly than Vinegar Syndrome’s new Blu-Ray edition.
If you’ve never seen Jackson’s film – and have the right perspective on it – you’re in for a treat. Neither a gratuitous slasher film (despite having several bursts of gore) nor a perverse black comedy (despite John Waters’ presence on one of the disc’s commentary tracks), “Christmas Evil” is a bizarre, at-times surreal psychological thriller about a toy maker (Brandon Maggart) wounded by a childhood trauma who simply loses all connection with reality one Christmas Eve. You see, Maggart’s character, Harry, watched as his mother had an affair with Santa Claus one Christmas, and he’s spent seemingly forever since whistling yuletide carols and wishing he was Santa Claus.
Seemingly harmless and put upon (except for his obsession with marking down the peculiar “naughty and nice” patterns of neighboring kids), Harry eventually loses it after he’s pushed around at work by his boss and ridiculed by church-going yuppies…to the point where Harry’s Santa becomes one of his city’s most wanted while the body count begins to mount.
Though billed as a typical slasher movie of its era, “You Better Watch Out” is too slowly-paced and not violent enough in the long run to satisfy most horror fans. But at the same time, that’s not the kind of film Jackson’s movie is trying to be: though it’s clear that Harry is a few steps over the line in the sanity department, you come to sympathize with him as his obnoxious bosses care only about the bottom line and not the sick kids at the hospital where Harry wants to donate toys. Harry’s helpless victims are the people who’ve taken advantage of the purity of Christmas, as it were – a message rammed home in the movie’s outrageously demented finale, which mixes elements of Clement Moore and “Frankenstein” and needs to be seen to be fully appreciated.
With an eclectic soundtrack that mixes portions of classic perennial tunes with an electronic score typical of the era, “You Better Watch Out” is one of the weirdest films of its type but also one of the most interesting “alternative holiday” offerings out there.
Vinegar Syndrome’s Blu-Ray/DVD combo pack boasts a terrific, DNR-free 4K restoration of a film that’s occasionally been part of numerous low-budget video releases. The disc’s 1080p AVC encoded transfer is culled from Jackson’s own print of the film, bearing his preferred title (“You Better Watch Out”) and running time, which is a few minutes shorter than other released versions. Jackson is on-hand here to contribute a brand-new commentary track, along with a commentary from Troma’s old, out of print DVD, plus Synapse’s DVD track featuring film director (and fan) John Waters and Jackson. Waters is actually quite good at asking Jackson questions about the production and its distribution, so the talk is a nice compliment to the director’s own, more technically oriented commentary and will come as a nice bonus for fans.
Other special features – mostly carried over from the Synapse DVD – include some 26 minutes of audition tapes featuring tests from JoBeth Williams, George Dzunda, David Rasche, Michael Beck and Lindsay Crouse (what a bizarre alternate version that would’ve made!) among others, plus seven minutes of deleted scenes, storyboards, and highly amusing screening comment cards (my favorite: “Why???”).
“Christmas Evil”/”You Better Watch Out” isn’t a classic but it’s a unique and wild ride that’s managed to attract its own, small following over the years, though not horror addicts by and large, who undoubtedly prefer the less subtle and more crass thrills of the hideous “Silent Night, Deadly Night” films.
For curious viewers, Vinegar Syndrome’s Blu-Ray/DVD is a most welcome release perfectly timed for holiday consumption. If you’ve had enough of the sweetness and can’t stand to watch the continued, crass commercialization of Christmas in general — definitely give it a spin with eggnog by your side.
Where's Rachel Portman when you need her...? 
This is a witty, wise and charming film, full of big laughs, scenic locales (shot by the great Dean Semler) and a delightful pastiche of classic Western musical tropes by Marc Shaiman (one of his finest scores). It's also fun to see a very young Jake Gyllenhaal as Crystal's son.
The latest assault on comedic decency by Seth MacFarlane, this anemic, embarrassing Western farce leans on disgusting "shock" humor, mistimed slapstick, endless profanity...everything but genuinely clever jokes. And it drags on for an interminable two hours, misfiring gags left and right. It doesn't help that MacFarlane, as an on-screen performer, lacks the slightest modicum of charisma or charm, his smug mug just begging to be punched in scene after scene. At least in his crummy cartoons and teddy bear movies, I was spared the sight of seeing his pale, inexpressive face trying to screw itself around his awful punchlines. And it's sad to see talented comic performers like Harris and Sarah Silverman trapped in one-dimensional, painfully unfunny supporting roles. I would have rated it even lower, but for Charlize Theron's supporting performance -- she genuinely seems to be trying to suggest at least a second dimension for her character -- and Joel McNeely's delightful score, the rare modern-day score I could imagine actually buying the soundtrack album for. It's a total cliché-fest, but considering what passes for "music" these days, McNeely's tuneful, rousing soundtrack is a breath of fresh air. Just a shame it's attached to this steaming pile of horse apples. 